Uni-Air International

Uni-Air International / Uni-Air
IATA ICAO Call sign
UF UAI/UAR UNIAIR
Founded1969
Ceased operations1994
HubsToulouse-Blagnac Airport, Le Bourget Airport
SubsidiariesUni-Air Maintenance, Uni-Air SARL, Uni-Air SA, Uni-Air-Transports-Montagne
HeadquartersBlagnac, France
Key peopleH. Clerc (President 1978), Joel Bastien (CEO), James Milhaud (CEO 1981), Yves Darnaudet (Chairman and CEO 1991)
Revenue72 Million francs (1982)
Employees75 (1982), 132 (1992)

Uni-Air International, also known as Uni-Air, was a French regional airline based at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in the Haute-Garonne department. The airline operated cargo and postal transport, on-demand passenger transport, international and domestic charters, medical transport, and chartered air services.

History

The airline was founded in 1969[1] in Blagnac[2] by several shareholders, including Bunnichelli, an industrialist from Toulouse,[3] Jacques Pellegrin, a Toulouse-based architect, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre (Castres), and the oil company Stela (Société des Transports d'Essences et de Lubrifiants de l'Albigeois, based in Albi and acquired in 1975 by the TOTAL group).[4]

Several other shareholders joined over the years, including Jean-Baptiste Doumeng[5] (Nicknamed: The Red Billionaire[6][7][8][9]) from the agricultural and agri-food equipment group Interagna (9% to 20%),[10] the Andorran Social Security Fund (9% of the capital), Sofinair (37%), the Regional Institute of Industrial Development of Midi-Pyrénées (12%), Marc Henri, Klur Alain, Doliner Michel, Fano René, and Kulpa Pierre.

The airline began its activities with air taxi[11] services and transport of cargo and passengers[12] using Beechcraft 99 and Cessna 182 aircraft.

In 1971, it began a regular service between Toulouse and Peyragudes using a Cessna 172 every Saturday and Sunday for skiers. This route quickly appealed to executives at Sud-Aviation in Toulouse. The same route was then considered from Bordeaux and Limoges the following year. The company created a subsidiary, Uni-Air Transports Montagne, for this purpose.[13]

The airline also operated the nighttime postal route with DC-3 aircraft between Rennes-Brest-Rennes,[14] taken over from Air France/Centre d'exploitation Postale.[15]

In 1976, Uni-Air acquired Douglas DC-3 aircraft from the defunct Vargas Aviation [fr], including F-BCYV and F-BCYT.

The airline was chartered by Europ Assistance [fr] for medical transport[7] and TAT European Airlines for regular domestic transport. In 1976, it provided a Douglas DC-3 to Elf Aquitaine, which converted it into a "sniffing plane".[16]

In 1982, Uni-Air employed 75 people and had a turnover of 75 million francs across three sectors: joint ownership and maintenance of aircraft, trading, and provision of flight and ground personnel.[17] The company logged 9,200 flight hours, including 3,350 on Fokker 27 aircraft.[17]

On December 1, 1984, Uni-Air International created a helicopter division for public transport and aerial work by purchasing an Ecureuil AS-350B, based in Toulouse.[18]

By 1989, the company operated in three sectors: a Fokker-27 sector with 2 F-27 and 2 FH-227 aircraft, a jet sector with 11 aircraft including Corvette, Falcon, and Learjet types, and a sector for aircraft under 5.7 tonnes, comprising 8 aircraft such as Beechcraft 99 and Twin Otter.[19]

Sofinair filed for bankruptcy in 1991, leading to the bankruptcy of Uni Air International, of which it was the main shareholder with 51%.[20]

Uni-Air was among the leaders in business aviation until 1988.[20]

After several bankruptcies, the company was acquired in February 1990 by the Parisian group Hélipart[20] and then by the Darta company (Darnaudet Transports Aériens SA) in 1991 (Uni-Air CEO Yves Darnaudet[21]), before being taken over by the former owners of Air Sud[22] in 1993.

Based in Toulouse and present at Le Bourget[23] in 1993, Uni-Air operated a fleet of five Corvettes, two Falcon 20s, a Lear Jet, and an HS 25.[22]

Finally, Air Entreprise took over the company in 1994, becoming Uni Air Entreprise, still based in Toulouse.[24][25]

The Uni-Air International Flight 602 Accident

Main article: EAS Flight 602

On April 10, 1989, the Fairchild FH-227B registered F-GGDM, operated by Uni-Air International and chartered by Europe Aero Service for a regular route between Paris-Orly and Valence in the Drôme, crashed into the Pierre-Chauve cliff near the Col de Tourniol in the municipality of Léoncel, at an altitude of 1,260 meters, during its approach to Valence-Chabeuil Airport.[19][26]

The crash resulted in 22 fatalities, including the two pilots aged 49 and 59, a 48-year-old flight attendant, and 19 passengers.[19][27]

The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety concluded that the accident was caused by a navigation error on the part of the Uni-Air International crew.[19]

Fleet

  • Douglas DC-3 F-BCYX of Uni-Air at Le Bourget in 1976
    Douglas DC-3 F-BCYX of Uni-Air at Le Bourget in 1976
  • Douglas DC-3 F-BAXR of Uni-Air in Toulouse in 1977
    Douglas DC-3 F-BAXR of Uni-Air in Toulouse in 1977
  • Douglas DC-3 F-BCYT of Uni-Air at Le Bourget in 1977
    Douglas DC-3 F-BCYT of Uni-Air at Le Bourget in 1977
  • Douglas DC-3 F-BAXR of Uni-Air in Toulouse in 1977
    Douglas DC-3 F-BAXR of Uni-Air in Toulouse in 1977
  • Carvair F-BYCL of Uni-Air in Toulouse in 1977
    Carvair F-BYCL of Uni-Air in Toulouse in 1977
  • Learjet F-GAMA of Uni-Air at Coventry in 1977
    Learjet F-GAMA of Uni-Air at Coventry in 1977
  • Aerospatiale SN601 Corvette F-BVPS at Coventry on September 26, 1978
    Aerospatiale SN601 Corvette F-BVPS at Coventry on September 26, 1978
  • F-27 F-BIUK of Uni-Air at Coventry in 1984
    F-27 F-BIUK of Uni-Air at Coventry in 1984
  • F-27 F-GAOT of Uni-Air at Faro in 1987
    F-27 F-GAOT of Uni-Air at Faro in 1987
  • Aerospatiale SN-601 Corvette F-BVPG at Faro in 1987
    Aerospatiale SN-601 Corvette F-BVPG at Faro in 1987
  • F-27 F-GAOT of Uni-Air for DHL at Paris-CDG in 1987
    F-27 F-GAOT of Uni-Air for DHL at Paris-CDG in 1987
  • F-27 F-GAOT of Uni-Air for DHL at Coventry in December 1987
    F-27 F-GAOT of Uni-Air for DHL at Coventry in December 1987
  • F-27 F-GIHR of Uni-Air at Stuttgart-Echterdingen in 1990
    F-27 F-GIHR of Uni-Air at Stuttgart-Echterdingen in 1990
  • F-27 F-GIHR of Uni-Air at Groningen in 1990
    F-27 F-GIHR of Uni-Air at Groningen in 1990
  • Dassault Falcon 20 F-GGMM of Uni-Air at Faro in May 1993
    Dassault Falcon 20 F-GGMM of Uni-Air at Faro in May 1993

Notes and References

  1. ^ "Uni-Air International". L'Annuaires des entreprises.
  2. ^ Auteur du texte, Secrétariat d'État aux transports Département des statistiques des transports (1985). Enquête annuelle d'entreprise - Transports aériens 1983 (in French). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  3. ^ "Bunnichelli uni-air - Recherche Google". www.google.com.
  4. ^ "N°1 : Stela produits pétroliers". ladepeche.fr (in French).
  5. ^ "LA DERNIÈRE MISSION DU F-BIEE". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1978-10-20.
  6. ^ "Les grandes figures du siècle". ladepeche.fr (in French).
  7. ^ a b ""Jean-Baptiste Doumeng, le milliardaire rouge"". TéléObs (in French). 2013-09-09.
  8. ^ Gaucher, Roland (1974). Histoire secrète du Parti communiste français: 1920-1974 (in French). Club français du livre. ISBN 978-2-226-00103-0. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  9. ^ Clerc, Christine (1985-01-01). Dimanche 16 mars 1986, 20 heures... (in French). (Belfond) réédition numérique FeniXX. ISBN 978-2-7144-9237-1. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  10. ^ "Le premier " avion renifleur " est retrouvé". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1984-01-14.
  11. ^ "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1981-12-01. p. 4.
  12. ^ "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1979-10-01. p. 50.
  13. ^ texte, Société des amis du Musée pyrénéen Auteur du (1971-01-01). "Pyrénées : organe officiel du Musée pyrénéen du Château-fort de Lourdes, de la Fédération franco-espagnole des sociétés pyrénéistes, du G.P.H.M. / Société des amis du Musée pyrénéen". Gallica (in French). p. 61.
  14. ^ Lamalle, Jacques (1980-01-01). Le milliardaire rouge: Jean-Baptiste Doumeng (in French). (JC Lattès) réédition numérique FeniXX. ISBN 978-2-7062-7062-8. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  15. ^ Sénat, France Parlement (1946-) (1978). Débats parlementaires (in French). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  16. ^ "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1984-01-15. p. 12.
  17. ^ a b "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1983-04-01. p. 46.
  18. ^ "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1985-01-15. p. 20.
  19. ^ a b c d "Rapport final sur l'accident survenu le 10 avril 1989" (PDF). bea.aero (in French). BEA. 1990-09-26. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "Europe Aéro Service et Uni Air déposent leur bilan". Les Echos (in French). 1991-05-21.
  21. ^ "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1991-09-01. p. 55.
  22. ^ a b "Double dépôt de bilan dans l'aviation d'affaires". Les Echos (in French). 1993-07-02.
  23. ^ Le Figaro Magazine (in French). Le Figaro. October 1991. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  24. ^ "Le marché de l'avion-taxi se porte mieux". ladepeche.fr (in French).
  25. ^ Flight International. DVV Media International Limited. 1999. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  26. ^ "FAITS DIVERS Accident du Fokker-27 d'Uni Air L'enquête devra expliquer pourquoi l'avion s'est écarté de sa route". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1989-04-13.
  27. ^ "Aviation magazine international : les ailes, l'air et l'espace". Gallica (in French). 1989-07-15. p. 11.
  28. ^ "Aircraft Photo of F-BSUZ". AirHistory.net.
  29. ^ Bannwarth, Eric (2023-07-29). "F-BTDV - Beech 99 - Uni Air [Nimes 5.03.73]". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  30. ^ "Aviation Photo #1656092: Douglas C-47B Skytrain (DC-3) - Untitled (UNI-AIR)". Airliners.net.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rzjets. "Uni-Air International".
  32. ^ Meloy, Alan (2011-11-18). "F-BRNS PA-31 Navajo Uni-Air - Manchester-Ringway April 1976". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  33. ^ "Aviation Photo #0333632: Aerospatiale SN-601 Corvette - UNI-AIR". Airliners.net.
  34. ^ Meegan, Ken (2012-01-13). "F-BVPG". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  35. ^ Jersey Airport Photographs (2019-02-16). "F-BUQP Aerospatiale SN601 Corvette Uni Air 1988". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  36. ^ ALTHERR, Jean-Luc (2020-09-25). "Aérospatiale SN-601 Corvette Uni-Air F-GEPQ. GVA, September 14. 1990". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  37. ^ "Aviation Photo #0326135: Aerospatiale SN-601 Corvette 100 - UNI-AIR". Airliners.net.
  38. ^ Apps, David (2021-04-15). "19761016-LHR-FBTYV". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  39. ^ "Aviation Photo #1185407: Fairchild Hiller FH-227B - Untitled (UNI-AIR)". Airliners.net.
  40. ^ a b c AIR-BRITAIN (1981). "Immatriculations des avions en France 1970-1980: UNI AIR INTERNATIONAL TOULOUSE" (PDF).
  41. ^ Air et cosmos (in French). Impr. Reaumur. 1990. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  42. ^ a b Uni Air International: flotte. Air World. 1988. p. 59.
  43. ^ Aviation magazine international (in French). Publications aéronautiques d'Europe. 1991. Retrieved 2024-05-05.